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    Home » Recipes » Appetizers

    Published: May 16, 2023 by Kelly Bloom · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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    Smoked Jalapeno Poppers (Texas Twinkies)

    Jump to Recipe
    crisp bacon wrapped stuffed Texas Twinkies.

    Spicy, smoky, and cheesy, these Smoked Jalapeno Poppers are the perfect appetizer for any occasion. Also known as Texas Twinkies, they're easy to prepare and can be smoked on a grill, or baked in the oven.

    crisp smoked bacon wrapped Texas Twinkies.

    Why You Will Love This Recipe

    Smoked jalapeno poppers are popular all year round, but they are especially popular during the summer months when people are grilling outdoors more often. They're also a great option for parties and potlucks.

    Depending on the part of the USA you live at, you'll hear them called Texas Twinkies as much or more as smoked poppers.

    Jump to:
    • Why You Will Love This Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • How to Make Smoked Jalapeno Poppers
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Related Recipes
    • Substitutions and Variations
    • Equipment
    • Storage and Reheating
    • Tips for Success
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Food Safety
    • Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love
    • 📖 Recipe
    • Connect with Smells Like Delish!

    Ingredients

    Use disposable gloves when seeding and coring the jalapenos, this will prevent any of the hot, spicy oils in the peppers from transferring to your eyes, nose, or lips. You'll thank me later!

    • Jalapeno peppers - Large, fresh, cored, and seeded.
    • Bacon - Thick cut works best.
    • Cream cheese - Bring to room temperature.
    • Leftover Pulled Pork, Beef Brisket, or Shredded Chicken - Optional, but makes these smoked jalapeno poppers, or Texas Twinkies, perfect!

    bowl of brisket, some bacon, jalapeno peppers, and cream cheese on a baking sheet for making Texas Twinkies.

    Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

    How to Make Smoked Jalapeno Poppers

    Making these smoked, bacon wrapped, jalapeno poppers is really pretty simple. You can use your Traeger or other smoker or grill, or your conventional oven.

    1. Preheat either your smoker or grill, or your conventional oven using the choice here:

    • Oven Method: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the poppers on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the bacon is crisp and the cheese is melted.

    • Smoker or Grill Method: Preheat your smoker to 275 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the poppers on the grill grates and smoke for 60-90, or until the bacon is crisp and the cheese is melted.

    Prepare The Jalapenos

    1. Trim the tops off the jalapenos. Make a cut the length of one side of the jalapeno, so you can spread the pepper open to fill.

    2. Carefully remove the seed core, using a paring knife if needed. If you want spicy poppers, leave a few seeds. Be sure to wear gloves! Rinse the cored jalapenos of any excess seeds you don't want with water.

    seeds removed from fresh jalapenos.

    Spread Cream Cheese Inside Jalapenos

    1. Using a small spoon, or a paring knife, spread about 1 ½ tablespoons of cream cheese around the inside jalapeno interior.

    cream cheese spread inside hallowed out jalapenos.

    Stuff With Brisket

    1. Once you have spread cream cheese into each jalapeno, stuff each pepper with some of the shredded brisket, pulled pork, or shredded chicken. Brisket is traditional, but any seasoned meat is great.

    PRO TIP: Season our poppers with some seasoning salt like our Homemade Montreal Steak Seasoning recipe.

    brisket filled jalapenos.

    Wrap With Bacon

    1. Lay the bacon out on a cutting board of clean work surface. Roll each cream cheese brisket stuffed jalapeno up in a slice of bacon and secure with tooth picks. Lay the bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers out on a baking sheet.

    2. Place the bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers right on the rack or grill of your preheated smoker at 275 F for 60 minutes. If really large, you may need to leave them for up to 90 minutes. You can also keep them on the backing sheet if you prefer.

    For Oven Method: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the poppers on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the bacon is crisp and the cheese is melted.

    bacon wrapped, brisket filled, jalapeno poppers secured with tooth picks on a baking sheet.

    Serving Suggestions

    These smoked jalapeno poppers are delicious served with your favorite dipping sauce, such as ranch dressing, blue cheese dressing, or guacamole. They can also be served on their own as an appetizer or snack.

    Serve these smoked, bacon wrapped, jalapeno poppers at your next backyard gathering, and watch them disappear! They are splendid with our Watermelon Fruit Salad also!

    crisp bacon wrapped smoked stuffed jalapeno peppers.

    Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

    Related Recipes

    • Quick Pickled Jalapenos
    • Smoked Brisket Flat
    • Easy Pico de Gallo
    • Frozen Texas Toast In Air Fryer
    • Smoked Salmon Cucumber Rolls

    Substitutions and Variations

    Here are a few scrumptious variations using this smoked, bacon wrapped, jalapeno poppers recipe (Texas Twinkies) as a base:

    • Use smoked pulled chicken, pulled pork, or any seasoned meat if brisket is not available.
    • Try using some seasoned Boursin cheese instead of the cream cheese.
    • Add other ingredients to the filling, such as chopped onions, Cajun seasoning, or herbs like chopped cilantro.

    Equipment

    Equipment can have a big impact on how a recipe turns out. Below are some of my favorite pieces of equipment that I use when making these smoked jalapeno poppers.

    • Traeger Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker
    • Nitrile Gloves

    Storage and Reheating

    • Smoked jalapeno poppers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

    • To reheat smoked jalapeno poppers, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the poppers on a baking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes, or until heated through.
    crisp bacon wrapped stuffed smoked jalapeno poppers.

    Tips for Success

    • Be sure to wear gloves when handling the jalapenos, as they can be very spicy.
    • Remove the seeds and ribs from the jalapeno peppers to reduce the heat.
    • If you are using a smoker grill, be sure to keep an eye on the temperature so that the poppers do not overcook.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I make these smoked jalapeno peppers ahead of time?

    Yes! You can make these smoked jalapeno peppers up to three days ahead of time. Keep them covered, then place in the Traeger or your oven to cook.

    Why are they also called Texas Twinkies?

    The name "Texas Twinkies" for smoked jalapeno poppers is thought to have originated in Texas in the early 2000s.

    Smoked jalapeno poppers are similar in shape and size to Twinkies, and the name quickly caught on. Today, smoked jalapeno poppers are known as Texas Twinkies all over the United States.

    Can smoked jalapeno poppers be frozen for later reheating?

    Smoked jalapeno poppers can also be frozen for up to 2 months. When freezing, place the poppers on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze for at least 2 hours before transferring to a freezer-safe bag.

    How spicy are these smoked jalapeno poppers?

    The spiciness of these poppers will depend on how much of the seeds and ribs you remove. If you are sensitive to heat, you may want to remove all seeds and ribs from the jalapenos, or use milder Poblano, Anaheim, or even Shishito peppers .

    Food Safety

    • Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
    • Wash hands after touching raw meat
    • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
    • Never leave cooking food unattended
    • Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
    • Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

    See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

    Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love

    • smoked baked beans in a cast iron skillet.
      Smoked Baked Beans
    • uncovered double smoked ham with glaze in a baking pan on a grill.
      Double Smoked Ham
    • white platter of bbq boneless pork ribs with asparagus on white plate.
      Country Style Boneless Pork Ribs
    • Montreal steak seasoning blend in a small mason jar.
      Montreal Steak Seasoning Recipe

    📖 Recipe

    crisp bacon wrapped smoked jalapeno peppers
    Print Recipe SaveSaved!
    5 from 1 vote

    Smoked Jalapeno Poppers

    Spicy, smoky, and cheesy, these Smoked Jalapeno Poppers are the perfect appetizer for any occasion. Also known as Texas Twinkies, they're easy to prepare and can be smoked on a grill, or baked in the oven.
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time30 minutes mins
    Total Time40 minutes mins
    Course: Appetizers
    Cuisine: American, American Southern
    Servings: 8 appetizers
    Calories: 340kcal
    Author: Kelly Bloom

    Equipment

    • Traeger Pellet Grill and Smoker
    • Nitrile Gloves

    Ingredients

    • 8 large jalapeno peppers get large as you can
    • 12 tablespoon cream cheese room temperature
    • 2 cup smoked brisket or pulled pork or shredded chicken
    • 8 slices thick cut bacon
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Preheat either your smoker or grill, or your conventional oven using the grill or oven cooking option below.
    • Trim the tops off the jalapenos. Make a cut the length of one side of the jalapeno, so you can spread the pepper open to fill.
      8 large jalapeno peppers
    • Carefully remove the seed core, using a paring knife if needed. If you want spicy poppers, leave a few seeds. Rinse the cored jalapenos of any excess seeds you don't want with water.
    • Using a small spoon, or a paring knife, spread about 1 ½ tablespoons of cream cheese around the inside jalapeno interior.
      12 tablespoon cream cheese
    • Once you have spread cream cheese into each jalapeno, stuff each pepper with some of the shredded brisket, pulled pork, or shredded chicken. Brisket is traditional, but any seasoned meat is great.
      2 cup smoked brisket
    • Lay the bacon out on a cutting board of clean work surface. Roll each cream cheese brisket stuffed jalapeno up in a slice of bacon and secure with tooth picks. Lay the bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers out on a baking sheet.
      8 slices thick cut bacon
    • Place the bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers right on the rack or grill of your preheated smoker at 275 F for 60 minutes. If really large, you may need to leave them for up to 90 minutes. You can also keep them on the backing sheet if you prefer.
      OVEN METHOD: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the poppers on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the bacon is crisp and the cheese is melted.

    Video

    Notes

    • Be sure to wear gloves when handling the jalapenos, as they can be very spicy.
    • Remove the seeds and ribs from the jalapeno peppers to reduce the heat.
    • If you are using a smoker grill, be sure to keep an eye on the temperature so that the poppers do not overcook.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 340kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.05g | Cholesterol: 71mg | Sodium: 660mg | Potassium: 135mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 545IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 1mg
    Keyword : smoked bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers, smoked bacon wrapped jalapenos, smoked jalapeno poppers, smoked poppers, Texas twinkies

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    Hi, I'm Kelly! and I have a love affair with herbs & spices! Here at Smells Like Delish, I'm all about creating food that has three aspects: flavor, aroma, and texture - to create satisfying fare!

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